I've mixed the two when I finished with hand quilting. Like you I had to finish the middle by hand but the arthritis in my hands made it a struggle. I did cross hatching on the wide borders by machine and I'm so glad I did. The quilt looked OK in my eyes and my cousin,a non quilter,for whom I made it thinks it's the best quilt ever. IMHO finish yours by machine and move on. If you put it away it will still "speak" to you and not leave you alone!!!